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What does PNW archaeology look like, you ask? Oh, dear reader. Come on over, pull up a chair. That’s a good lad/lass. Allow me tell you a tale. A tale of wind, and sun, and dirt.
***Oh, & a couple lithic sites in the middle of a previously constructed access road.
***Oh, & a couple lithic sites in the middle of a previously constructed access road.
Now, dear reader. A few notable items re: the PNW. This wonderful geographic location is exceedingly diverse, with coastlines, mountain ranges, lush valleys, high desert, rain forests, and true deserts. Our story today begins in PDX, traveling East thru the Columbia River Gorge.
And takes us to the high desert, within 15 miles of the Columbia River!
Survey consisted of 16 disparate locations, and an additional 3+ miles of access roads.
Suffice to say, ya boy got his steps in that day!
Suffice to say, ya boy got his steps in that day!
For the first time in over three months, a companion joined me in my archaeological adventure!
Socially distanced, of course.
Socially distanced, of course.
For those unfamiliar with common archaeological practices, Shovel Test Probes (STPs) were excavated at several locations where viable, and screened through 1/4 inch mesh screens. We are already “basically” 6 feet+ apart when we do this, so was very easy to ensure we kept space.
What we failed to account for were the 20-30 mph winds all day. Ya boy here was the one screening. I think you can see where this is going.
Yep, you guessed it. This guy right here got pelted with what felt like a metric TON of a fine silty loam mixture with large peds and moderate sub-angular gravel content.
Now, dear reader. Pro tip, carry sunscreen ON your person when you hike for several miles, digging and screening as you go. I applied sunscreen twice, and it, combined with the wind was still not enough. This archaeologist was DEFINITELY sun&wind burnt, and dirty by the end.
Note, my beard is not THAT full, nor THAT dark. 
And those red eyes though...
I promise, this guy does not partake of the herbal substances.
And those red eyes though...
I promise, this guy does not partake of the herbal substances.
Anyway, what was really interesting about this project is it’s location atop a long ridge line above a river! We knew going in that it was a high probability area, but figured that the odds were low as we were staying within already disturbed roads and work sites. #rookiemove
We recorded two isolates. Nice fragments of a beautiful white CCS. One a portion of a projectile point, the other the base of a scraper. Basically, material losses from repair or other activities, since this was not a known permanent settlement area, but rather seasonal.
Thennnnnnnn, we hit pay dirt. We started noticing A LOT of the same white CCS material located in a section of the road itself. At first, it looked like shatter from construction and driving. Then we found a flake. And another. Then a projectile point base. And more. Crap.
This project is needing to go to construction this summer/fall. Nature of the beast unfortunately. We tracked both scatters, full of this material (probably dozens) for maybe 50 meters each. Kind of making us wonder if the original road construction hit a concentration & drug it.
BUT, the cool thing is that while we are unable to do recovery, we are going back to map the site boundaries as related to our Area of Potential Effects (APE) and are able to route the project away from this area. So, while not an exciting, recoverable project and discovery...
We do get to add to the record, & actually found shizz! Which, for any archaeologist, is incredibly rewarding.
And now we get to better understand this area where it was previously thought only subsistence, seasonal activities took place, & maybe think in terms of summer camps.
And now we get to better understand this area where it was previously thought only subsistence, seasonal activities took place, & maybe think in terms of summer camps.
And this guy got INCREDIBLY dirty, outside, in the sun and wind. Doing something I love, in some truly beautiful country.
And my final thought is pure wonder at the complex, interesting people’s who wandered these hills, eking out a living hundreds and thousands of years ago.
And my final thought is pure wonder at the complex, interesting people’s who wandered these hills, eking out a living hundreds and thousands of years ago.
